Care Recipient Health

Clinical trials are important for the development of new medical treatments. If you or a loved one gets sick, you want the best treatment. Without the patients who volunteer to participate in clinical trials, the development of new treatments would not be possible.

WHY IS DIVERSITY IMPORTANT?

It’s important for individuals of varied races, ethnicities, ages, gender and sexual orientation to participate in clinical trials. We know that some medicines impact people differently. For example, certain blood pressure medications are less effective in African Americans than other races. Inclusion of participants from diverse backgrounds furthers research and helps find better ways to fight diseases that disproportionately impact these populations.

However, ethnically and racially diverse audiences are underrepresented in clinical trials. Despite comprising 12 percent of the U.S. population, African Americans make up only 5 percent of clinical trial participants. Hispanics represent 16 percent of the U.S. population, but only 1 percent of clinical trial participants.

Is your loved one having difficulty covering the cost of their medications? Many pharmaceutical companies offer “Patient Assistance” programs that work with families to make sure their loved ones are getting the treatment they need.

Here are some of the Patient Assistance programs offered by NAC member companies:

Podcast Series The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the United Hospital Fund of New York’s Next Step In Care Campaign have produced a series of educational podcasts: Helping Patients and Caregivers Take the Next Step in Care: Medication Management. These podcasts are featured on the CMS YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/CMSHHSgov) and are designed to help providers and caregivers think about the steps involved in medication management, especially during transitions to and from hospital, long term care, and home care settings.